phyllis thomas contemporary visual translations

(for more reflections visit www.phyllisthomasart.blogspot.com)

Reflections on Work:

Markings of 2020; meditative calls to prayer
Opposing the Grid
You've heard the phrase, living off the grid. Last year I realized my natural inclination is to live in the grid. I use a paper appointment book to fill in events and my days are fairly predictable. At least that's the way 2020 started. I made time for my reflections of 2019 and began planning day by day events and working on a new series of paintings in my studio in January.

In March, in the middle of my new series, Covid-19 appeared and everything changed. Though uncharacteristic of me, I found myself responding in my sketchbook to disconnection, isolation and sameness that affected my balance of life. Each day lingered and melted into another. Then each month moved into another month and another. I began to feel a sameness as well as a fracturing of regular routines and rhythms in my life and studio; my grids were empty and broken and I felt resistance.

I allowed myself to embrace the opposition to my grid and accept the days/weeks/months as God made possible. This composite, though very different from my sketchbook images, is the result of visualizing the markings of my days in 2020.I felt at times the emotions of discouragement, fear and uncertainty and the weight of each day/month continuing into the next for 9 months. But I did not lose heart. The unseen part of each moment of every day sustained me; shown here as the under-grid of gold that reflects my faith in my God who tells me not to lose heart; He is present.
References:
2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Hebrews 12:2-3

Rend My Heart
I don’t often respond to social issues except as they are included in the scriptural studies I do for my work. But this time I was compelled to respond to the heaviness of heart I’ve been carrying these past weeks during COVID-19 and unrest in our nation.

The Lord reminded me of a verse; Rend your hearts and not your garments. I knew it was in the book of Joel so I went to the book and read it to get the context. It’s not a book I read often but I found out it was probably written in the ninth century. It was written in the midst of a massive locust plague and severe drought. Joel calls on everyone to repent and sees this as a reminder the day of the Lord is near and restoration and blessing will come only after judgment and repentance.

As I pondered these scriptures, this image came to my mind directly without any thumbnail sketches. It was straightforward and progressed quickly. While I was making it my heart was heavy. It has many layers of meaning for me and is much deeper than torn paper, black, red and white colors and silver and gold stitching. It speaks to me of sin, repentance, division, good and evil and our need for God’s mercy and healing and wholeness. The centerpiece is Jesus who has conquered sin. He is the healer of our hearts.

I’ve seen the scar of someone’s heart surgery. The incision runs down the center of the chest, and when surgery is complete, the wound is sewn up so it can heal. In this piece I see the center stitching both being unsewn (rended) and sewn up (mended). So perhaps the title could also be Mend my Heart.

Whatever you see in this piece, I hope it takes you to a place of searching and prayer. Our prayer team has been calling out to the Lord for repentance, forgiveness, a spirit of revival, a standard of righteousness and proclamation of the Kingdom of God over the forces of darkness.

Would you please join us in calling out to the Lord for His hand of mercy and an increased presence of the Lord to bring about transformation in our nation? He changes us! He turns our mourning into dancing! He does it!

Joel 2:12-13
©phyllis thomas 2020

A Visual Lament

July is a special month for me; I was born on Independence Day! This year was a very different day than any previous year. I have celebrated Independence Day with fireworks and hearing the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance all my life. Even in Kenya we attended the U.S. Embassy compound as an American celebration for American expatriates. We saw the American flag honored and I was always full of pride, even to tears remembering our great United States and always grateful our country provides freedoms other countries do not.

This year I was brought to tears for other reasons; the disrespect for our flag and history of our nation with violence and disregard for one another. Those actions brought me to re-read the Star Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance I so often recited and sang from childhood up to adulthood. I realize now those words were said automatically without a lot of thought—I took them for granted. But I took time this year to think about what they say and it took me to a deep place of lament and prayer for our nation.

This piece emerged from those thoughts, prayers and remembrances. While I was stitching this work together, my mind wandered to the history of the flag. I spent some time researching and it is far too complex to write here. Suffice it to say, our flag has evolved from many different designs; Betsy Ross’ flag being one of the first made in Philadelphia in 1776 which didn’t even look like our current flag. I discovered a second seamstress, Mary Pickersgill, a Baltimore flag maker who was commissioned in 1813 to make a garrison flag which is the one known as the Star-Spangled Banner and is about one-fourth the size of a modern basketball court and whose restored remnant currently hangs in the National Museum of American History. I imagined the women sewing these original flags with their hands, doing the work of a patriot and maybe even praying. Even though the flag emerged from division, war and death, I believe they loved their country and were grateful for the freedoms granted them by the sacrifices of many. Could they have ever dreamed our United States would be so divided again in generations to come?

The other piece of literature I took a closer look at is the Pledge of Allegiance. As I read this I was humbled and troubled that the words are no longer true for our country; one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We seem to be opposite that statement and the realization caused me to be on my knees in prayer and that is where I’ve been for weeks.

To finish this piece I singled out the phrase; under God because our forefathers founded this nation on faith and a commitment to freedom. The gold shape at the top right is there to remind me of God’s presence and the stitching between the shapes and gap is a call for healing and mending the wounds that only God can do. We have fallen short of this pledge and have devised our own way, overlooking the needs of the poor and afflicted. We harbor injustice and have killed the unborn. We have turned our back on God. Will you join me to call out to the Creator of this nation for repentance and forgiveness? That He would use us for His purposes and bring unity and healing? Ask Him to revive us again and empower His Church to love and respect humanity and be image-bearers of Christ and return us to a nation whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 27; Psalm 22:27-28; Psalm 113:6

Lamentations 5:19-21

2 Chronicles 7:13-15

Matthew 24:4-14

©phyllis thomas 2020

Pieces of Psalms; a meditation series
Our sermon theme on Psalms inspired me last year. My initial research reminded me that they were composed to be sung—they were the Hebrew Hymnal. Eight-stringed instruments as well as the flute and others were used as accompaniment as they were sung to the Lord. One writer stated they are the bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament and a summary of the same.1 The words interlude and/or selah show up 71 times which I think of as a breath—a space between parts. Martin Luther said the Psalms are a little Bible; in it is comprehended most beautifully and briefly everything that is in the entire Bible.2 And as I learned, there are psalms of praise, thanksgiving, prayer and repentance and they are God’s instructions for righteous living and teach who he is, what he has done and what he expects from his people.3

I’ve titled this series Pieces of Psalms. This comes from my desire to incorporate stitching in my work as well as seeing them as part of a whole. Like one piece of a quilt is part of a whole, one Psalm is part of the whole book. Quilting was an artistic expression in my family ancestry from my great-great grandmother to my mother and now currently my sister. So I feel this is possibly the way I can carry on that handiwork through my artwork for now.

1 Intro to Psalms in NLT p 900
2 Martin Luther; intro to Psalms in NLT p 904
3 Intro to Psalms in NLT p 905
©phylllis Thomas 2020

Day and Night

I chose to open the series with Psalm 1 since I feel the foundation for all the Psalms is meditating on God’s word continually; day and night. The blues blend light to dark and make a contrast like the words instruct; meditate day and night and pursue wisdom above folly. The thriving leaves stay green and are nourished by the stream; a picture of what happens when we apply His wisdom. I know what thriving leaves look like because our landscape is full of plants and trees, many that are edible which bring organic nourishment to our bodies.

This piece brings a sense of peace to me and urges me to keep God’s word in my heart at all times; while I’m working, walking, sitting or sleeping. It’s a meditation; a process of inner reflection on God’s instructions, thus the addition of Hebrew text for verse two as the primary focus and placed in a lyrical line like a song.

Psalm 1:1-3

©phyllis thomas

Still Waters

The Good Shepherd’s name in this psalm is Jehovah Rohi, the God of tender care. When I read Psalm 23 for this series I thought of the rolling hills in Tuscany, Italy where I attended an Artist-in-Residence Retreat in 2017. I remember standing at the farmhouse looking out over the rolling hills of green and gold and how peaceful I felt. Then I remembered a walk down the road to a stream of clear, clean water which perfectly mirrored the landscape and I felt refreshed. Even though I saw no sheep on the hills or valleys, I could imagine what they would have looked like on those hills and how they might have come to the stream to drink from the calm water.

Alongside that experience, this psalm was highlighted by a dear friend who fought cancer for a year and just recently lost her battle and was promoted to heaven. She shared on her Caringbridge site how Psalm 23 became the centerpiece for her meditation during her journey. Every night she and her family recited this psalm before she slept and she rested more soundly.

As usual I spent time reading and researching more deeply and coupled with these two experiences was brought closer to what it means to have a Good Shepherd:

~He is present and has my best interest at heart

~He manifests his tender care even in adversity

` ~He lays down his life to protect mine

~He demonstrates his care in all my wilderness wanderings

~He seeks out and leads me to peaceful streams so I can drink deeply and rest

~He takes me to green pastures that are flourishing with life

~He is aware when I stray to the darkest valley and looks for and rescues me

~He defends me from danger

~He shows me honor and hospitality

~He pursues me with his unfailing love

These are only summary statements but I wanted this piece to remind me God is worthy of the trust and confidence I have in Him because of who He is. I chose cool colors of green for the hills and valleys and blue for the stream to reflect the refreshment I have when I allow the shepherd to guide me. To keep with my use of stitching I chose light thread for the flock of sheep and one gold thread to represent the shepherd. Most of the action in this psalm is initiated from the shepherd but there is one final note that is important; the sheep spend so much time together with their shepherd, they know his voice and if they let him, he will lead them to safety, refreshment, peace and rest. I need to know my Savior so intimately that I respond to Him and allow Him to lead me to Still Waters.

Psalm 23, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 55:22

John 10:27-29, Matthew 11:28, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Isaiah 40:11

©phyllis thomas 2020

Mended

I continue to be amazed at how God brings resources together when I’m working on a piece. This happened again for Psalm 16 my latest meditation during Holy Week. I have two friends connected to Japan; a painter who is Japanese-American and an American musician I met in Orlando who has lived with his family in Tokyo as a missionary for nearly 20 years. During this pandemic, the painter posted videos1 from his studio talking about brokenness and beauty and I just finished a book by the musician titled The Broken Leaf 2 which is about art, life and faith in Japan. The musician was in Japan during the Tsunami on 3/2011 and the painter experienced ground zero in NYC on 9/2011. Both have ministered through their art in each of these disasters and intimately understand brokenness first-hand. Their lives and art have ministered to me and you can look them up by the references below if you are interested in knowing more.

I reference them because they both influenced this piece by explaining the Japanese art of Kintsugi; the mending of broken pottery with gold. It is a visible example of the gospel; just as broken bowls are mended and still usable, we who are broken by sin are not thrown out, but mended by the blood of Christ and His resurrection.2

For this meditation on Psalm 16:9-11, I read David’s words of the O.T. prophecy of the resurrection mentioned in Acts 2:25-28. In Matthew 28 on resurrection Sunday the women were met at the tomb by an earthquake and a brilliantly white-clothed angel who stated; He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.3

That’s a lot of words but maybe you can see my inspiration as I put all these elements together and made this piece of white torn paper mended with gold leaf and gold thread as an expression of those insights God brought to my attention during this meditation. The marvel of the broken pottery in Kintsugi is that after repairing, it is stronger and worth more than the original bowl because of the extravagant material used to mend it. Ultimately we are stronger from our brokenness because of Christ’s extravagant sacrifice. When we repent, confess our sins and give up all our own strategies and bow down to the Holy One who is Jehovah-Rapha, our Healer/Mender, we are then able in small ways to reveal His glory through our weaknesses by our total trust in Him. In Christ all things were created and in Christ all things hold together.4

1 Mako Fujimura, Youtube subscription channel

2 The Broken Leaf; meditations on art, life and faith in Japan, Roger W Lowther, pp 7-10

3 Matthew 28:1-6 NLT

4 Colossians 1:16-17

©phyllis Thomas 2020

Torn

Continuing my Pieces of Psalms series, it became meaningful that I began making Psalm 22 near Holy Week and specifically finished it on Good Friday. It is a lament Psalm and we are in a time of lamenting; not only Christ’s death but during this time of losing much personally.

Even though this is a Psalm of David when he was pursued by his enemies, the first two verses are repeated in Matthew 27 which we read as those words Jesus spoke on the cross. When I read verses 1-2, I identified with Jesus calling out to His Father and His not answering a request to come to him—to rescue him. During this time, we are crying out the same lament because some have lost family, jobs, resources and even daily routine.

As Jesus was torn away from His Father and abandoned on the cross, we find ourselves unexpectedly torn from family, friends, church body and work colleagues. We are isolated and can feel abandoned. We may be fearful as the chaos continues globally. We know we can’t depend on society, government or science for relief, so this became my Good Friday meditation lament this year. Through this piece I cried out to the only One who has already saved me; the One who became sin for me and suffered the abandonment of His Father and cancelled my sentence of death. I confessed my fears and trying to displace Jesus with my own attempts to fix things and allowing my attention to be diverted by voices of society. And as I lamented, this piece took form.

This was a work in progress for a while and it changed from the first sketch I did some weeks ago to this final piece. From the various inspirations, I settled on just the high contrast of light and darkness thinking about the bright noonday sun being blotted out by darkness and the light of the Father and the darkness of sin. I took the piece of paper and tore it horizontally however it would tear. Then I painted a separate piece of paper black and sewed the three pieces together with red thread and added beads symbolizing Jesus’ sacrifice for me which unexpectedly gave a beautiful jewel-like quality to the somber lament. That’s the beauty of art!

Thank you Jesus for forgiving me and accepting death to give me life!

Psalm 22

Matthew 27

©phyllis Thomas 2020

By His Breath

Though I had no plans to make this piece, an image came to my mind from the study of Isaiah 59:19. I’ve heard this passage used often by many people including myself when there is an onslaught of trials, evil and distress in our lives and our world. I know the verse well from the King James Version; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. The word standard always brought to my mind some wall or rod or staff like Moses held up by the Red Sea and held it back to make a safe passageway through the waters. However, after my study, I’ve seen something different and it adds deeper meaning for me.

Looking at the context of Isaiah 59, it is a warning against sin. The whole chapter—in fact the whole of Isaiah--cites injustice, dishonesty, disgrace, oppression, rebellion and on and on which can be translated as SIN. There was so much sin they could not grasp the meaning of the light of God or hear His voice until the Lord himself stepped in to save them. He called on them to turn away from their sin so He could bring righteous retribution through salvation.

I learned that the standard and the flood that drives out the enemy is the salvation of the Lord! Not some wall or staff or plan that stops the enemy but the Breath of the Spirit that rushes in and brings conviction and repentance and subdues the enemy and puts him to flight. This gives me hope; the Lord is coming to restore his people through salvation and will end injustice, disgrace, oppression and all sin. He will purify us, wash and renew us so we will be whiter than snow as Psalm 51:7 states.

After my study and meditation, I was inspired to make this piece which translates these words into a visual language. I’ve never personally experienced a flood; I’ve only watched images on TV of raging Colorado Rivers cascading down canyons and the crushing deluge of the ocean crashing onto the beach in hurricanes. In my imagination I think I would feel hopeless, lost, doomed with no escape and I would be on my way to drowning.

The image of a raging flood and the breath of the Spirit blowing through the torrents sinks it to a lower level. The less violent deluge seems like I won’t feel like drowning, but be able to stand against the enemy By His Spirit. The Lord wants to usher in salvation to restore and revive us if we invite Him.

This gave me a new perspective. Instead of focusing on the enemy and what might be used to overcome him, I call out, revive us O Lord! Cover us with conviction! Your salvation will stem the tide of evil in our land. Make us witnesses so You can bring revival to us, our nation and the world, so people from the West and the East will revere Your glory and receive Your salvation.

Isaiah 59

Psalm 51

©phyllis thomas 2021

On That Day

This year the Day of Pentecost fell on the same Sunday we examined Psalms 113, 114, 115 and 116 so I’m combining portions of Acts with this expression titled On That Day. Pentecost was a festival; people from every nation had gathered to give thanks for their harvest. The disciples were there and Jesus told them to shelter in place; don’t leave Jerusalem. Wait for the gift the Father promised you and you will have power and be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Then He left! But they stayed and waited.

On That Day they were overwhelmed with the sound of rushing wind and the appearance of fire and were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. That led to Peter’s bold proclamation of the gospel and over 3,000 believed and were added to the church—the first fruits of the gospel.

At this point I bring Acts and Psalms together. These are Hallel Psalms—hymns of praise. They exalt the name of the Lord everywhere--East to West--and reveal His character. He reaches down to care for the poor and needy (113); He has power over creation and provides for His people (114); He is our helper and shield (115); He has offered the cup of salvation (116).

Which takes us back to the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we exhibit His character and His fruit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and overflow with the desire to serve others in our community and even to the ends of the earth which can lead to the proclamation of the gospel. We’ve come full circle!

There’s so many words here but when I got started, I enjoyed writing almost as much as I enjoyed making this painting. This Piece of Psalms happened quickly. While reading Acts 2 I envisioned the elements of this image and painted it without effort. The stitching was the most laborious part but I love how it slows me down to ponder my thoughts.

Acts 1:4-5

Acts 2:1-4

Galatians 5:22

Psalm 113, 114, 115, 116

©phyllis thomas 2020

Days of Holiness; a Lenten meditation series of 5
This work was done during my Lenten meditation; a 40-day season marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, sorrow and ultimately celebration. The LORD gave me these images in my mind over several days/weeks reading/meditating on scripture. I recorded what I was thinking and seeing. They are conceptual, symbolic and iconic.

I like to say more with less--our world is full of things, noise, words and activities. I wanted to use only what was necessary to speak this visual language of the cross. To do that I had to slow down, take time and put aside all the information I already knew and ask the LORD what I'm supposed to receive this year from these days in preparation for Easter.

The power of Easter is the shedding of Jesus' blood. For without the shedding of blood we have no redemption. So I tore five squares of watercolor paper and painted them with an undercoat of red acrylic and let the red peek through each square. All these pieces have stitching symbolizing the piercing of Jesus on the cross, the center of this season. This action slows me down because I have to thread the needle, hold the paper and push the needle back and forth into the piece. This time the piercing was done from the backside so the roughness shows up on the front to emphasize His suffering for me.

Ash Wednesday begins with dust and ashes for reflection and repentance from sin. Because silver tarnishes, it symbolizes sin and degradation so I applied silver leaf to the background board and stitched around the grey with silver thread. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Instead of painting a palm for Palm Sunday, I painted the second image green for obvious reasons. As I was pondering the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, I thought of the footsteps of those leading and following Jesus as He entered. Thus the irregular stitching of brown over the green with one white thread symbolizing Jesus on the colt. Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

Thursday commemorates the foot washing and Last Supper with Jesus and His Apostles. I could see blue with concentric circles of water in the basin of those being washed and the humility of Jesus. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

Friday was the day Jesus was crucified and his blood shed for you and me. It's a black somber day because no one thought there was any hope. The stitching here is with red thread and added beads. Jesus died. Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Then there is the glorious Sunday which arrives after a quiet, ponderous Saturday and is full of light and reflective shininess! Hallelujah Jesus rose from the dead and gave me life eternal! There are seven vertical threads and stitching all around the edge symbolizing healing and rising up. The background is gold leaf which does not tarnish and is a symbol for divinity. Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

Psalm 51:1, Luke 19:38, John 13:5, Luke 23:46, Luke 24:5
copyright, phyllis thomas 2019

Blue Upon Blue
This series was made over several years. The ocean and beach are my favorite places to rest, relax and be renewed in my mind, soul and spirit. I try to take an annual Art Retreat by myself where I can reflect, breathe and receive insight and fresh ideas for my work. Walking on the beach is like a conversation for me. I'm observing color, texture, space, nature, feeling the sea breeze, smelling the fresh salty air and dialoguing with myself as well as God. Sometimes I just sit and watch and take it all into my soul.

These five pieces are representative of what has come forth from these retreats. The vivid color shown in this work is the result of layer upon layer of ultramarine, cobalt, manganese and indigo blue to make the richness and depth of color I desired. This layering became very meditative for me initially then quite energizing as I observed how each color added to the other until it was what I envisioned.

These may seem minimal and simplified, but that is what I wanted in order for the viewer to step back, breathe and imagine feeling the salty air, hear the sound of the waves and find a place to rest.

The sea is His, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
Reference:
Psalm 95:5
copyright, phyllis thomas 2019

Songs over Tuscany
The brochure read; Medieval castles, sunny rolling hills, isolated hilltop towns, charming farmhouses and isolated rural homes, avenues of cypresses, rows of vineyards, olive groves, and golden wheat fields are just some of the elements of the fantastic and harmonious landscapes of Valdorcia! Crossed by the Orcia River, from which the valley derives its name, this wonderful region in southern Tuscany stretches along the Province of Grosseto.

Who wouldn't want to visit this place?! My husband and I had the privilege of participating in Cru Transform's first Artist Residency in this Agri-tourist area of Italy. Seventeen artists of various expressions and a prayer intercessor gathered for three weeks in community to build relationships, share technique, grow spiritually, pray specifically and practice our art-making. I list art-making last, because it was so much more! It was also about the people and their stories.

Besides visiting small and large towns, viewing the varying landscape and eating delicious Italian food, we made art. My on-site sketches were in response to the rolling fields of gold wheat surrounding our farmhouse. Every day I observed the changing colors according to the time of day and the harvest process, from combining grain and collecting bales of straw, to tilling the soil. I'm sure my response goes back to my growing up on a farm in Indiana where we did the same work, in much smaller scale.

The colors of harvest are also some of my favorites so I chose my palette of ochre, raw sienna, sap green, raw umber, burnt sienna and cerulean. My sketches were quick as I simplified the landscape into color and line, trying to emphasize the gentle rolling hills.

After returning, I wanted to reproduce the sketches into a few larger works. But I got got stuck. They didn't translate the same way in a larger format and there was so much I wanted to say I just didn't know how to reduce it into a painting, so they sat in my studio for months until I called a colleague to help me see why I couldn't finish them. In a few minutes our dialogue of questions and responses helped me to change my perspective from a normal horizon-line landscape to a topographical landscape. That was the key to get me going again.

I finalized these pieces as topographical maps of the lay of the land, its hills and valleys. It was a perfect solution because as I was painting I remembered the songs we sang over the harvest fields surrounding the farmhouse. Two artists were musicians; a violinist and guitarist. We sat outside, listened to them and sang songs while viewing the landscape. For me, these lines also represent the sounds of the violin and songs we sang.

I began looking up musical terms and found most are Italian derivatives so all the more appropriate to use music as a theme. It brought to mind how many times the Psalmists used descriptive language to declare that all creation sings a song of the goodness of God. Especially Psalm 65.11-13: You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy.

Furthermore, Zephaniah 3.17 says: The LORD your God is in your midst--a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with his love; He will rejoice over you with singing. So we joined the LORD in singing Songs over Tuscany and its people. We prayer-walked the towns we visited, tried to communicate with locals who understood English and left this beautiful place filled up with more joy and blessing than when we arrived.
copyright, phyllis thomas, 2016

Visual Narrative Summaries

. . .and the wind ran out of breath

The Sea of Galilee is the largest freshwater lake in Israel. It is 700 feet below sea level and can suddenly become transformed by violent winds blowing through the hill country, stirring up the waters causing deadly waves for fishermen. It was a treacherous thing to the disciples because they were not practiced sea-faring people. They only went out to sea for the necessity of catching fish for food.

On that evening when Jesus left the crowd and asked the disciples to go over to the other side of the Sea, I was surprised they would be so terrified. Then I compared translations and began reading descriptive words like fierce, severe, waves crashing, furious squall, hurricane proportions and I understood. I’ve experienced a fast approaching thunderstorm with darkening sky and increased wind during the summer, but I was on dry land and ran for home. I’ve experienced a few hurricanes blowing across our property, but I was on dry land and under the protection of our roof. Why would the disciples not be struck by fear and panic?

After their initial alarm, they remembered the presence of Jesus in their boat and they knew what to do; they pleaded with Him to preserve their lives! After all, He was the one who asked them to go to the other side. They were in awe when He simply spoke and the sea became as smooth as glass. Their fear changed from the natural elements to the power of this Man who had command over the sea. Who was in this boat with them?

This story is full of contrasts and I tried to paint this image depicting before and after Jesus spoke His miracle. The sky has not yet disposed of its darkness but the sea shines calmly like a mirror. Isn’t that the same with me? I can be in the middle of dark anxiety, stress and turmoil trying all my own solutions to save myself or I can remember Jesus, and be transformed into a place of stillness and peace. Which would you choose?

He told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!”

The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.

Mark 4.36-41 The Message

Luke 8:22-25 Amplified Bible

Matthew 8.23-26 Amplified Bible

©copyright , phyllis thomas 2014

. . .and it happened this way

I’m not a fisherman. My dad was. He loved fishing on Indiana lakes. I would often watch him come to shore with a string full of blue gills. I watched him clean them and my mom would fry them for dinner, and they were good! He tried several times to persuade me to join him and I occasionally did. I loved being in the boat on the water, but I always came back with an empty string; I caught no fish! Maybe the disciples felt a little like I did in this story that happened this way. . . .

Simon Peter persuaded his colleagues to go fishing on the Sea of Galilee where they had previously made their living as fishermen. But this night they caught nothing. Early in the morning someone standing on the shore called to them confirming they had no fish. Following his instructions, they threw their net on the right side and were unable to haul it in because of the weight of the fish. Now that’s a catch!

Obviously the story continues but I’m pausing here. Is your imagination visual enough to picture this scene? Mine is. This is an up close and personal image of the 153 flopping fish the disciples’ net could hardly hold. Their emotions must have been over the top and they must have had many questions! Wow! Look at these fish! I can’t believe we just caught this many when we were here all night and didn’t catch even one! Who is this person giving fishing instructions? How did he know we didn’t have any fish when he is standing on the shore?

Now you know there is more to this story and it goes deeper than fishing for fish. This is just one miracle Jesus showed the disciples to prove His love for them. After breakfast on shore, a conversation followed that brought Peter to a place of examination about his love for Jesus. He may have remembered three years earlier when he first encountered Jesus and decided to leave fishing for fish and followed Jesus as a fisher of men. Much happened in-between that time and this event but in the end, Peter realized Jesus knew him better than he knew himself and despite his failures, would prove his agapelove for Jesus. The rest of the story lives on in the lives of all who have encountered Jesus; even you and me.
References:

John 21.1-1-17

©copyright, phyllis thomas 2014

Harvest Psalter

The Bible is an agrarian world from the Old Testament to the New. There are two dozen references of sowing, reaping, seed-time and harvest which often mark the natural rhythm of the times. Growing up on a farm, I know the plenty of harvest and the leanness of drought. That experience gives me some insight to the short story of Ruth that embodies a harvest theme. It is a love story and redemptive narrative with a turning point in chapter 2 when Ruth returns with an ephah* of grain to give to her mother-in-law, Naomi. It includes other contrasting themes; distress versus hope, emptiness versus fullness and poverty versus prosperity.

Because there are so many contrasts, I settled on a simplified image of color and contrast enhanced by gold threads which become a musical instrument for accompaniment to a song of praise I believe Naomi and Ruth whould have sung at this crucial point in the story. God's extravagant provision through Boaz's kindness reveals compassion for the poor and hope for redemption to this mother-in-law and loyal daughter-in-law and that is a psalm of joy to me.
References:
Ruth 2:20
*Psalter, Gr. psalterion, a harp
*Hebrew unit of dry measure; about 5 gallons
copyright phyllis thomas

Haiku Moments

“A haiku is a prayer of praise that celebrates God’s work by paying attention and then reflecting back, as simply and clearly as possible, what we experience in God’s created world. It is a way of letting God know that we are paying attention. . .” ~Margaret D. McGee, Haiku~the sacred art

I recently read two books that have influenced this series: The Artist's Rule, and Haiku~the sacred art, quoted above. They both underscore a process of taking time to see what is around me and holding it in my heart. It reminds me of the Hebrew word, Selah that I pondered several years ago which means pause and think about that.

The principles of haiku and monasticism complement my introverted temperament which needs time, silence and meditation to ruminate on what I have seen, heard or read. I have been intentional about saying more with less and leaving only the bones of the composition and/or finding the essence of the object or moment and leaving everything else out. I call these images, my Visual Haiku and I can imagine this to be an ongoing series with pieces added throughout the year(s) as I become aware of those special fleeting moments.

In shadow, I was sitting at my computer desk. From the corner of my eye I observed movement on the wall. I was astonished to see a moving video of leaves and realized it was the shifting shadows of the vines covering my west window. I was mesmerized for several minutes and thought about the difference between shade and shadow. I was witnessing a simplified copy of the real thing; it was like a sketch or outline on the wall. This experience visually reminded me of the fleeting life that lays before me and the importance of taking notice of and pausing long enough to absorb these experiences into my heart.

The image of papilio came when I looked out the window and saw orange-spotted wings settling onto a branch. I tried to take a photo but she was too fast. I kept watching in amazement at how quickly she landed, tasted and flitted off to the next tasty morsel. To honor these beautiful creatures in God’s creation, I began with line and obliterated shapes until I felt the work gave a sense of flight and said just enough about a butterfly but not too much. The decision to title it papilio came in memory of my high school Latin classes. Butterflies are a symbol of new life and I hope someday to find a cocoon hanging on a leaf in order to watch the process of birthing a butterfly.

The Artist’s Rule; nurturing your creative soul with monastic wisdom, Christine Valters Paintner, 2011

Haiku~the sacred art, Margaret D. McGee, 2009
copyright phyllis thomas

Gold, Blue, Purple and Scarlet; a sanctuary
This series of abstracted images features close-ups and the bare elements of the symbols and riturals used for worship in the earthly tabernacle according to Exodus 31-35. It references the call to artisans and the community to make all the artistic designs for the sanctuary using what they had to offer: gold, silver, gems, yarn, fine linen, animal skins, acacia wood, spices and oil.

I used fluid acrylic paints on paper and dramatized the color for each part of worship. Keeping with the integrity of the tabernacle's use of linen for curtains and priestly garments, I mounted the finished pieces on raw Belgian linen.

My process included thougthful research and gave me deeper understanding about this temporary dwelling. It foreshadows the Messiah who took the place of the altar, laver, lampstand, showbread and incense, and opened the curtain for our access into His presence and now dwells in the hearts of individuals. Even if you are not a student of religious studies, I hope you will investigate the myriad of images described in scripture for further insight and understanding about the Christian faith.

But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new convenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven's tent--the true Holy Place--once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all. If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.
Hebrews 9:11-15 The Message
References:
Exodus 31-36; Hebrews 8-9; Matthew 12:3-4
Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1506, 1510
The Tabernacle: shadows of the Messiah
copyright, phyllis thomas, 2012

Signatures on the Sand

My brain reaches a point of saturation overload and I have to stop to debrief and take a breath. Flagler Beach is where my “soul catches up with my body”1; the place I can walk the bare open sands and allow the “tides to erase all of yesterday’s scribblings” as Anne Morrow Lindbergh so clearly writes in The Gift of the Sea. 2

My gifts were signatures of the sea on a neutral palette of sienna, black and grey sand which appeared briefly then washed away leaving me with a sense of awe. I was so excited at what I’d found! I was witnessing a one of a kind brushstroke that was impermanent; created by the rhythms of the seashore and never to be repeated. My curiosity was aroused and I wondered what this language might say, where all these tiny bits of shells may have originated and what stories they would tell.

As I transferred the land art signatures onto my canvases in my studio, I realized how powerfully simplistic they are. The marks are grand yet fragile and say just enough to speak with authority. I embraced their beauty and imagined them saying to me: listen, simplify and appreciate the uniqueness of every moment in time.

References:

1. Warren Wiersbe, God Isn’t in a Hurry, p. 48;

2. Anne Morrow Lindbergh, The Gift of the Sea, p. 16;

3. a Grain of Sand; nature’s secret wonder, Dr. Gary Greenberg, photographer

©copyright, phyllis thomas, 2011

QumranEleven: unearthed evidence

Archaeologists have been digging in the soil for centuries to discover evidence of old places, people and objects from the past as proof those cultures and objects once existed. Though not an archaeologist I have been gathering and filing away articles and reading books that have been written about the unearthing of the ancient Scriptures I cherish so highly. This series of paintings references these hand-written pieces of parchment and papyrus scrolls that were discovered in eleven of the Qumran Caves from 1947-1956.

I admire and stand amazed at those who meticulously brushed and sifted away soil to discover even the tiniest fragments of parchment and/or pottery which protected the Dead Sea scrolls dating back to the 3^rd Century B.C. to 1^st Century AD. 1 The first discovery in 1947 was not intentional. In fact no archeologists were present or were even looking for the scrolls here. A young Bedouin shepherd boy who was going about his ordinary work possibly in pursuit of a lost sheep found the first seven cylindrical clay jars. These jars filled with debris had no value to this young boy who was disappointed there was neither gold nor silver hidden in the bottom. Perhaps disillusioned, he handed these discoveries to someone who realized their worth and for nearly a decade archaeological teams searched the caves. They recovered 600+ scrolls and thousands of fragments in eleven of the caves marking the most important archaeological discovery of the 20^th century. Thirty-eight of the 39 books of the Old Testament were represented excluding the book of Esther. Today they are preserved in the Shrine of the Book Museum in Jerusalem. 2

I am captivated by the fact these writings from so long ago were hand-penned using carbon-based ink by scribes from the little-known monastic Jewish sect called the Essenes. My reading revealed they were a people who intentionally left the cities to seek solitude in the desert with the purpose of devoting themselves wholeheartedly to the study of the Hebrew Scriptures. It seems reasonable they would have the forethought to hide these treasured writings inside clay pots and securely place them in the caves away from the Romans when Qumran was destroyed in C.E.68. 3

These biblical discoveries are only a partialregistry of the work archaeologists have accomplished. While I was researching the Dead Sea Scrolls, I also found references to other extra-biblical discoveries like the 17,000 tablets in Ebla in northern Syria, 22,000 tablets of prophecies in Mari and Nuzi near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the code writing of Hammurabi, Hittite monuments in Carchemish and the Moabite stone. Do you remember reading about these places in the Old Testament and do you know the NIV Study Bible lists these along with 33 other Ancient Texts and the years they were written? 1

When I read about these findings they shed light on and confirmed the trustworthiness of God’s Word. To me they proved the long-ago existence of real people in real places who lived real circumstances. They made Psalm 85:11 read more than stanzas in a prayer: Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.₄ Further verification comes from Mr. Dan Nichols who agrees we live in a generation when the Bible is often disputed and skeptics set out to discredit its accuracy. He mentions that Bible text is unparalleled in ancient writings as to its accuracy and reliability to the original text because what we have today matches well with what was originally written—especially the Dead Sea Scrolls. 5 And, Mr. Nelson Glueck, a respected Jewish archaeologist was quoted in saying that categorically no archaeological discovery has ever disputed a biblical reference. 6 I wonder along with these men, what remarkable things are yet to be discovered?

When I research the background of a piece or series, I’m connecting it with history, spirituality and geography. It feels like I’m digging down deep into the source and soul of my work. What I’m making becomes more than a piece of paper covered with paint. It becomes a dialogue with a messenger and viewer and in this case proclaims the endurance and timelessness of the Scriptures.

My intention was to image a sense of digging deep into the soil, finding fragments and treasures like the archaeologists must have hoped for in their digs. I also wanted line and mark to represent but not translate words. I cannot read Hebrew or Aramaic so the language is just beautiful marks to me. My automatic drawings of line and mark bring that dimension to the work. The stitched pieces reference the Isaiah Scroll of parchment pieces sewn together. 7

My process of art-making for this series was also a discovery for me. Unlike most of my previous works, I did not “pre-plan” these fragments as thumbnails. After reading and researching in books and articles about the Qumran Caves and the terrain and environment as well as viewing photographs of the land and fragments of the preserved scrolls, I startedby tacking 3-4 pieces of paper on the wall in my studio. The first brush strokes were automatic drawings of line and mark, to which I quickly added color in order to break up the space and obliterate any marks I didn’t want. I continued refining and adding as I saw sky, land, crevice and rock emerge. Some pages have many layers of acrylic; others were quickly finished and left. The pairs were unplanned until I began to see one page flowing into the other.

That said there were intentional parts to this work: the decision to use paper which referenced papyrus and parchment on which the scrolls were written; and the number eleven relating to the number of caves. As so often happens, when I reached number eleven, my inspiration waned. It was confirmation the series was complete. Another intentional part to this series involved the presentation. My desire to retain the integrity of papyrus, page and fragment meant that I needed to show the torn, uneven edges and still provide a way for them to be hung securely on a wall. I finished the series by mounting the papers with a spacer on wood panels leaving a slight edge as if the piece could be picked up as a page. My final work was to make a clay vessel after the design of the clay jars that stored the scrolls in order to display a three-part piece rolled inside. That is another whole story!

As I lived with Qumran Eleven: unearthed evidence I-XI for several weeks, I realized my interest in the old and aged carries over into my personal life. Perhaps it’s my desire for antiquity and nostalgia that keeps me cherishing old things kept from my grandparents, parents, school days, early marriage and travels or even children’s books and toys from our children’s childhood and a “little something” from every place I have travelled and lived. Or perhaps it is because they are evidence of my life lived. These old objects have endured. They have roots. They have outlived the trends and fads and they bring stability.

Likewise, unearthing the Hebrew and Aramaic texts is evidence of a people who tirelessly copied the ancient yet relevant words on parchment and papyrus in order to pass on the proof and integrity of the Scripture that is eternal. 8

Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will never pass away

Matthew 24:35

References:

1. New International Version Study Bible, p. 5, Intro to Genesis

2. The Letter and the Scroll ; what archaeology tells us about the Bible, Currie and Hyslop, p. 244

3. The Biblical World ; an illustrated atlas, p. 255

4. Digging Deeper: the Bible and Archaeology, Rick Ezell, pp. 6-7, the Lookout Magazine, 9/19/2004

5. Truth from the Earth: Archaeology and the Christian, Dan Nichols, pp. 8-9, the Lookout Magazine,

9/19/2004

6. Light from the Blade of a Spade, Dr. Ward Patterson, pp. 4-5, the Lookout Magazine, 919/2004

7. The Letter and the Scroll, p. 297

8. www.centuryone.com

©phyllis thomas 2010

Mixed Media Summaries

Soul Songs

There are heroes of faith who have gone before and left examples of how to endure life. David is one of those people for me. He is known to us from narratives and as a writer of Psalms and poems which he left as records to tests and deeds of faith throughout his life. He consistently writes of his dependence on the LORD His God and his inquiries of the same when he faced difficult times as a shepherd, fugitive, rebel, desperado and King. Those life experiences gave him many opportunities to pour out his inner self in these songs.

David was known as a brave man and warrior as well as a harpist. He was called upon to calm and soothe King Saul’s tormented spirit and thus began his service in the palace which was preparation for his becoming King. How often are we invited to serve with our artistic gifting and fail to acknowledge it or subjugate it to a lesser importance? David’s model speaks to me of answering the call to be everything God created me to be.

References:

1 Samuel 16.14-23; Biblical Dictionary of Imagery, p. 194

Offering

When my heart is surrendered to the Spirit, I willingly sacrifice an offering; not ritualistically as the Old Testament sacrifices of the Lamb, but voluntarily, as a result of my heart restoration.

My non-blood sacrifice to the LORD is my time—the hours in my day, represented by the embossed numbers which almost disappear in the gray bottom third of the painting. I have the same number of hours as anyone else, but the choices I make in how I spend those hours are crucial to my inward life and worship. Do I spend less time sleeping? Less time being entertained? Less time procrastinating? Less time complaining and being critical?

The sacrifices in the Old Testament were made with fire….they were burned up on the altar leaving ashes and the smoke, going upward as a sweet aroma to God. Every day I make choices that affect my life. The hours can never be lived over or changed. I have found those hours to be very precious and I’m more mindful of how I burn them.

God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.

Reference:

John 4:24

Refined as Silver

Raw silver extracted from the ground doesn’t look like the silver we think of when we buy or wear jewelry made from the precious metal. The process of refining or eliminating the impurities or dross from the pure ore was particularly time-consuming. A crucible or furnace and a bellows or blow-pipe was needed before the fluid metal was changed into a usable form.

Likewise, I believe God’s Word contains nothing worthless or useless. The promises offered me have been thoroughly tested in the process of living. By standing firm on the flawless Word of God, I am being refined daily like precious silver to be made into something beautiful.

References:

Psalm 12:6;

Proverbs 25:4;

Psalm 119:140 ; Psalm 18:30

to any length

This is a transforming piece. Inspired in part by my pastor’s teaching from Romans 15:1-13, The Divide Has Been Crossed, I had many images that came forth in my mind and heart during and after that message. When I began creating this work I was focused on the differences in our culture: opinions, behavior, and ethnic backgrounds which often bring disunity.

I tried to show the diversity in unrelated colors as in a landscape of life, going from the very lightest light to the darkest dark. If you look closely, you may notice how each color was painted as a wash, one over the other, until the combination of those colors created the darkness.

The transformation in this work started with the next step when I began visualizing how the disunity and messiness of my life can be overcome with the hope of God’s love. As I often do, I used gold as the symbol for divinity and began the laborious task of implanting and tying the imported gold threads on top of the colors.

These threads dramatically cover over all the nuances of darkness and imperfections and go deep, piercing the paper, and yet leave room to return back up to the light. In short, I visualized how God will go to any length to initiate His love toward me, with an appeal for me to respond with the same love back to him and out to others.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

References:

Romans 15:1-13; Zechariah 12:10-11

Aletheia

My inspiration for this piece was based on the Greek word aletheia, which means truth. I intentionally expressed my understanding of how God’s truth is a stabilizing anchor in my life and worship My thoughts were about the ocean where I am always impressed with the changing, powerful force of that magnificent body of water. . .something unstable.

My first attempt at creating this piece was a smoothly blended blue wash with waves at the top and the silver strip acting as the anchor. As part of my technique, I added thin Japanese paper on top of the blue section. What appeared were these unexpected uneven strokes showing through this paper. That was not what I intended and I almost threw this away. But as I started over to make a second smooth wash, I kept looking at this irregular piece and it became clear to me this was the expression I was looking for; uncontrollable forces of the undertow, riptides and cross currents which are evident in the ocean that the anchor holds against.

Circumstances, emotions and the world standards that I face daily can be unreliable, but my faith and worship depend on the reliability of truth: and the words of the LORD are flawless; like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

References:

John 4:24, NIV; Psalm 12:6, NIV

Watercolor Summaries

Draw Near

There are many Biblical references to fire and most of them represent God’s presence. Among them are the burning bush, sacrifices, ceremonial purification, the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the wilderness, Mt. Sinai and Pentecost. Theologically, the presence of fire is called a Theophany: God’s revelation of Himself.* There is both a sense of awe and fear in these appearances.

Imagine Moses taking the initiative to investigate the burning bush. He stood near enough to experience an intimate appearance of God and heard God speak to him mouth to mouth. Though Moses was unsure, meek, disobedient and cowardly, God saw who Moses could be despite himself.

For me, this represents an invitation to keep drawing near to God with the hope of His transforming power in my life. Could He kindle a blazing bonfire of intimacy within my heart that would send sparks of His love falling on those around me?

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush,
“Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

* Dictionary of Biblical Images, p. 130

Other references:

Exodus 3:14; Exodus 19-20; Exodus 12:21; Numbers. 13:13; Numbers 9:15-16; Deuteronomy 33:16; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:30-34

Flowing from Within

Imagine the last time you were really thirsty and a drink of water gave you life. Imagine the last time you came in from working in the garden or returning from a strenuous walk or run on a hot, humid day and a tepid shower made you refreshed and clean. Nothing is more extravagant than water which is, of course, one of the elements essential to life.

Biblically, water has reference to many things: a cleansing agent, quenching thirst, renewal, baptism, purification, life and forgiveness. When this piece was painted, I was just moving out of a stagnant, sterile, blocked place. I hadn’t been producing any work because of limited movement due to foot surgery which kept me immobile and unable to drive for weeks. I was homebound and in an uncomfortable and unfamiliar place. My days became reflective and literary as I read pages and pages of written work. My expectations of healing were not realized. I became critical, frustrated and sluggish because the surgeon’s projected healing time wasn’t what was happening in real time.

When I did get back to my studio, this is the first piece I painted. Though this work had been “painted” on thumbnails and in my head for several months, it was a very liberating act to see it appear. I started by washing lots of plain water over the paper, soaking it. After waiting until some water had been absorbed, I applied pigment with a brush, letting the manganese, ultramarine and pthalo blues bleed and blend into one another. Then I added violet for contrast. After waiting a little longer, I picked up the frame and tilted it side to side, and up and down to let the colors run down, even spraying the very top with a fine mist of water. This made the water literally run down the paper and washed the top portion back to the white of the paper. After watching the colors run down the paper for awhile, I laid the frame down to settle. Then I picked up other brushes full of the same blues and violet and splattered these pigments on top of the wash. It was my expression of a cleansing, a washing and living, moving water. Though there was some direction because of tilting the frame, essentially this was a very uncontrolled work allowing the pigment to go where it wanted to go. I let out a sigh when it was completed.

This was a renewal painting for me. As I re-read the scripture references I previously had in mind for this piece, it truly became an expression of releasing the stagnancy of my own heart. The image of water became living water to me, like the Holy Spirit moving and washing away those pent up, sterile feelings of limitations and house-recovery days. It was almost like a cleansing and a re-birth from death to life as in baptism or a surge of new strength, an impulse of joy, God’s presence. It was indeed an essential element to my life as an artist.

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,
streams of living water will flow from within him.

John 7:37-38; John 1:26; John 4:13-14; John 13:4-8
Psalm 51:1-2; Isaiah 12:2-3; Isaiah 41:18, 20; Isaiah 58:11

By Night

Biblical references to pillars are numerous and often sited as symbolic rather than architectural; extraordinary rather than routine; used for the sacred and as memorials. This painting specifically references the event of the Exodus out of Egypt after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and spent 40 years walking the long way around toward the Promised Land.

In this account, the pillar of fire was the visible symbol of God’s presence among his people that stayed with them every night. It is not rooted in the ground, but freestanding, going ahead of them to lead and light the way in the wilderness. The phenomenon is considered a theophany (appearance of God) and is a forecast to the grand theophany, the incarnation of Jesus.* The addition of gold leaf in the center symbolizes divinity, strengthening the sense of God’s presence.

I imagine how comforting it was for the community of wanderers to have this presence at night to calm their fears, comfort their mind, and direct their steps. Today I don’t have the same kind of visible symbol for God’s presence, but I have the Word of God to give comfort, calm my fears and direct my path and it is available to me day or night.

References:

Exodus 13:20-22;*Numbers 12:5-6, NIV notes

Mercy

The summer rains, grey skies, billowing clouds, soft or torrential rain that falls almost predictably every day. Rain. It is undeserved, uncontrollable and given by our Creator to everyone, with no preference to race, creed or status. We wait for it every season to wash away dust and pollution, making way for a fresh start. It is life-giving, making sleeping or wilted plants wake up.

As I watch the rain, I see an analogy to mercy. As a daily Christian I need the life-giving restoration that God’s mercy provides. I prepare myself to love the LORD my God with all my heart mind and soul, but when I fail, I admit my failure and ask for His cleansing mercy. It’s between me and God. He comes to me and the invisible miracle of the gospel changes my heart.

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
You, too, be patient and stand firm, because the LORD’S coming is near.

References:

James 5:7-8